Kent Spitfires start Royal London One-Day Cup Campaign
The Kent Spitfires face current First Division Champions, Durham, in their opening game in the new, 50 over Royal London One-Day Cup at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, tomorrow. After four years of 40 over cricket the England and Wales Cricket Board has decided the time is right to fit in with the rest of the cricketing world and prepare their players for the extended one day format.
Kent Head Coach Jimmy Adams is upbeat in the change of format from NatWest T20 Blast to the longer One Day version noting that, ‘with confidence high, we look ahead to a different format with the start of the Royal London One-Day Cup 50 over competition, in which we have to take on some sides we haven’t maybe come across in a while. So that presents us with some new hurdles to jump. I can see pros and cons from both sides in having a 50-over competition, but if we are playing international cricket over this duration then it’s only right from a development point of view that our younger players grow up getting a taste of it.’
Adams has pretty much stuck with the squad that brought the Spitfire’s within touching distance of the quarter-finals, following wins against Somerset and Surrey in the final two rounds. Of the fourteen named in Friday’s squad, Brendan Nash and Calum Haggett have been added in place of Adam Ball and Charlie Hartley.
Durham has already played their opening match in the 50 over format, having been beaten by Somerset, by five wickets at Taunton on Sunday. They posted a respectable 311 but where then run down by the West Country County with 3.2 overs up their sleeve. Kent dominate the List A record between the two Counties. Having completed 13 matches, Kent has won 11, including five in Canterbury.
The match begins 2.00pm; gates open 12.30pm, Tuesday 29 July, at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury.
The full squad is:
· Rob Key (c)
· Daniel Bell-Drummond
· Sam Billings (w)
· Alex Blake
· Doug Bollinger
· Mitch Claydon
· Fabian Cowdrey
· Calum Haggett
· Ben Harmison
· Brendan Nash
· Sam Northeast
· Adam Riley
· Darren Stevens
· James Tredwell
Injury Update:
Mark Davies and David Griffiths unavailable due to injuries.